2013 Nebraska High School State Tournament

The 2013 Nebraska State High School Bass Tournament is in the books.  Turned out to be a great day, cool and rainy in the morning followed by clouds.  The kids caught a lot of fish.  Congratulations to the kids from Gretna, 15 pounds for first, and congrats to Ian and Quentin from Southern Valley for finishing second.  I really enjoyed taking Randy and Chance for the day and they did a great job.  They finished 5th and had the second biggest bass at 5-1.  They had the fish on to win, but they lost a 5 plus near the boat after it wrapped up in brush.  At the end of the day, all you can ask for is the opportunity to win and they had the bites.  But that's why they call it fishing and not catching, and a lost fish usually will cost you at the end of day.  Bottom line, they should be proud of the finish and happy they had the opportunity.  As tournament anglers, we have all been in this position and will be again.  Great job fellas.


Overall, most of the teams reported a solid buzz bait bite and some caught fish on spinner baits and crank baits, but almost exclusively the fish were in 2 feet of water or less.  Three fish 5 pounds or better and several over 4 were weighted in.  All but 5 teams weighed fish, a huge success.  I want to say "Thank You" to the Nebraska Game and Parks and TBF (The Bass Federation) for a well run tournament.  The kids had a great experience and I saw many sticking around and fishing afterwards.  If you have school aged kids, get them involved.  Join a club or start one at your school.

Lake report, Harlan County Reservoir:
Water temps running 75, with relatively clear water (for Harlan) on the main lake, some stain in the dog and the coves.  The largemouth a scattered, but locate rocks and you'll find fish.  Whites are bunched up around large schools of shad, but the biggest fish running in 3-4 feet of water on the main lake.  Walleye are shallow and reports of limits caught yesterday.  The catfish are mixed (deep and shallow), but good cats are being caught on the dam rocks and back in Patterson.